OT: D1

[IUPNation]

Temple has hired Sam Houston State head coach, former Delaware head coach, and Allentown area (Emmaus) native K.C. Keeler as their new head coach.

I like this hire; Keeler makes a lot more sense than any of Temple's last four head coaching hires (Stan Drayton, Rod Carey, Manny Diaz, and Geoff Collins). From what I've heard, Marshall head coach Charles Huff and Syracuse defensive coordinator/former Temple assistant (and Camden, NJ native) Elijah Robinson were the other finalists, and the fact all three guys would have made sense for Temple also makes me happy; it means Temple actually put thought into who would make sense as their head coach (most important attribute - familiarity with Temple's core recruiting footprint).

Also..Keeler probably isn’t going use this as a stepping stone to move up.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

WVU has canned HC Neal Brown

[IUPNation]

WVU has canned HC Neal Brown

Hillbilly High should have done more to be acceptable for the clap for credit institutions in the See Eceryone Cheat Conference. They are a program stuck in the mud in the Big 12.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Hillbilly High should have done more to be acceptable for the clap for credit institutions in the See Eceryone Cheat Conference. They are a program stuck in the mud in the Big 12.

SEC ... not good odds. They'd be the 'homeless' family in the SEC city, money-wise.

But, the ACC for sure. The ACC makes a ton of sense.

[CHIP72]

Also..Keeler probably isn’t going use this as a stepping stone to move up.

That is true.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Also..Keeler probably isn’t going use this as a stepping stone to move up.

I wouldn't think. He is 65.

Even in the Portal era it will take years to clean up that mess.

[EyeoftheHawk]

WVU has canned HC Neal Brown

My question is, who do they think they’re going to land to replace him? The only way they land a perceived top-tier coach is if he’s fired from a more prominent program. Maybe a Mike Norvell at Florida State or someone along those lines (not saying Norvell is getting fired). It’s not a top-tier program and it’s hardly a destination you point to on a map and say, “I’d love to live there.” Their best bet would be to land an up-and-comer from a smaller school, maybe even FCS, and let him use you for a few years before maybe earning a job with a top-tier team.

Some of these schools just need to be a little more realistic. If West Virginia makes the CFP once every ten years and makes a run at it a time or two in between, that’s pretty darned good. If it weren’t for some untimely injuries, I believe Pitt could have remained in the conversation this year for at least a few more weeks. Unfortunately it went the other direction but that’s another program that has had some success including a recent ACC title in 2021 with a coach that apparently a lot of people don’t like. They would have been in the playoff in 2021 and if you ask me, that’s pretty darned good.

I think WVU would have been better served to keep Brown and let him build something similar to what Narduzzi has done at Pitt. It’s not spectacular, but it’s not awful either and at least you have consistency and every few years you can find yourself in the conversation for a conference title or playoff spot. Now they’re going to throw a bunch of money at someone and think that’s going to solve their problems. As Nation pointed out, they’re also a misfit in the Big 12 so there’s that too.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

My question is, who do they think they’re going to land to replace him? The only way they land a perceived top-tier coach is if he’s fired from a more prominent program. Maybe a Mike Norvell at Florida State or someone along those lines (not saying Norvell is getting fired). It’s not a top-tier program and it’s hardly a destination you point to on a map and say, “I’d love to live there.” Their best bet would be to land an up-and-comer from a smaller school, maybe even FCS, and let him use you for a few years before maybe earning a job with a top-tier team.

Some of these schools just need to be a little more realistic. If West Virginia makes the CFP once every ten years and makes a run at it a time or two in between, that’s pretty darned good. If it weren’t for some untimely injuries, I believe Pitt could have remained in the conversation this year for at least a few more weeks. Unfortunately it went the other direction but that’s another program that has had some success including a recent ACC title in 2021 with a coach that apparently a lot of people don’t like. They would have been in the playoff in 2021 and if you ask me, that’s pretty darned good.

I think WVU would have been better served to keep Brown and let him build something similar to what Narduzzi has done at Pitt. It’s not spectacular, but it’s not awful either and at least you have consistency and every few years you can find yourself in the conversation for a conference title or playoff spot. Now they’re going to throw a bunch of money at someone and think that’s going to solve their problems. As Nation pointed out, they’re also a misfit in the Big 12 so there’s that too.

Will Jimbo come home?

He's a name. He's looking for a last stop.

[Ram040506]

Going from Central Florida Man to Florida Man State is a bit of a downward move.. even though UCF Man hasn't exactly lit up the Big 12 since they left the 'Merican.

Going from HC at UCF to OC at FSU is a downward move. If he were keeping his same HC position, going from UCF to FSU is an upward move. If you think UCF is nearing the same level of FSU job for job, then I can't get there with you.

[Fightingscot82]

My question is, who do they think they’re going to land to replace him? The only way they land a perceived top-tier coach is if he’s fired from a more prominent program. Maybe a Mike Norvell at Florida State or someone along those lines (not saying Norvell is getting fired). It’s not a top-tier program and it’s hardly a destination you point to on a map and say, “I’d love to live there.” Their best bet would be to land an up-and-comer from a smaller school, maybe even FCS, and let him use you for a few years before maybe earning a job with a top-tier team.

Some of these schools just need to be a little more realistic. If West Virginia makes the CFP once every ten years and makes a run at it a time or two in between, that’s pretty darned good. If it weren’t for some untimely injuries, I believe Pitt could have remained in the conversation this year for at least a few more weeks. Unfortunately it went the other direction but that’s another program that has had some success including a recent ACC title in 2021 with a coach that apparently a lot of people don’t like. They would have been in the playoff in 2021 and if you ask me, that’s pretty darned good.

I think WVU would have been better served to keep Brown and let him build something similar to what Narduzzi has done at Pitt. It’s not spectacular, but it’s not awful either and at least you have consistency and every few years you can find yourself in the conversation for a conference title or playoff spot. Now they’re going to throw a bunch of money at someone and think that’s going to solve their problems. As Nation pointed out, they’re also a misfit in the Big 12 so there’s that too.

WVU fans are right behind Pitt in the delusions of grandeur. One man isn't going to come in there and turn things around. They've had the best they can have in terms of resources. Its a dying state with a limited fan base. The university is in decline. I'm sure some mining idiots paid for Brown to go away. I'm with you that things were pretty decent in Morgantown. Ask the guy what he needs to succeed more and try to make it happen. The worst thing they can do is hire a name who flips that job after 2 or 3 years for the next SEC opening.

[Fightingscot82]

Anybody see the clear sack/fumble returned for a touchdown only to be overturned as an incomplete pass in the Eastern Kentucky-Villinova game? Unbelievable.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

WVU fans are right behind Pitt in the delusions of grandeur. One man isn't going to come in there and turn things around. They've had the best they can have in terms of resources. Its a dying state with a limited fan base. The university is in decline. I'm sure some mining idiots paid for Brown to go away. I'm with you that things were pretty decent in Morgantown. Ask the guy what he needs to succeed more and try to make it happen. The worst thing they can do is hire a name who flips that job after 2 or 3 years for the next SEC opening.

Well, two old friends may be interested. I'm not sure they'd go down either path -- Rich Rod or Dana.

My thought all along is they'd go after Jimbo. It's almost the perfect fit. He's not going to use them as a springboard at this stage. His buyout from A&M was so massive he may even come at a (slight) discount.

If I were a WVU fan I'd agree with your theory of hiring a young hotshot -- who will be on the first bus out of Morgantown the instant his stock rises.

As for Neal Brown, he was never going to survive the debacle in Pittsburgh. He was already on the plank. That just sealed it.

[Ship69]

SEC ... not good odds. They'd be the 'homeless' family in the SEC city, money-wise.

But, the ACC for sure. The ACC makes a ton of sense.

I don't think the ACC wants them. I know the B1G doesn't want them largely due to academics.

[Ship69]

WVU fans are right behind Pitt in the delusions of grandeur. One man isn't going to come in there and turn things around. They've had the best they can have in terms of resources. Its a dying state with a limited fan base. The university is in decline. I'm sure some mining idiots paid for Brown to go away. I'm with you that things were pretty decent in Morgantown. Ask the guy what he needs to succeed more and try to make it happen. The worst thing they can do is hire a name who flips that job after 2 or 3 years for the next SEC opening.

I agree with you on several points. Thing is, WVU is the only big-time sports action going on in West Virginia, and a lot of people in the state have a big emotional investment there. My stepdaughter's boyfriend lives there and can probably name just about every guy who has ever played for WVU for the past 40 years. He might even know their uniform numbers. They're probably as fanatical about their team as any fan base in the country. Problem is, as you say, they're never going to have the resources to be truly top tier. Most D1 teams don't.

[The P in IUP]

Brown was there 6 years, with a 37-35 record overall and a 25-28 record in the Big 12. He wasn't building anything but being average. He beat 3 teams ranked in the top 25 while there and none of them ended up in the top 25 by seasons end. His best year was last year but wasn't anything to right home about as WVU got destroyed by the two good teams they played. WVU fans gave him time but his teams never gave them a win to put their hat on. Closest was maybe beating Pitt at home last year. He struggled with the media. Most WVU fans know they have no chance to regularly play amongst the big boys but you gotta give them something to brag about if your there over a half a decade.